TheRealScubaSteve
November 12th, 2014, 08:40 PM
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hSMA4fEk9rw/VGQAMhfPqSI/AAAAAAAAFnk/w05ZatZAEME/w978-h543-no/IMG_20141112_194944.jpg
For your reading pleasure, here's a quick look at the Aurora Style fountain pen. Medium nib, Paprika (red) plastic resine. U.S. retail price comes in at $100, but is typically found around $70. At this price range, I am a bit disappointed, but it is a pretty nice pen.
I think that pen companies have a lot to learn from Pilot. Take, for example, the Pilot Metropolitan. It's downright cheap, but well built, and a solid performer right out of the box. Failure to at least come close here with a much more expensive pen (4 Style's for the price of one Metro) would make me hesitate to purchase a more expensive pen from Aurora or any other brand.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-n8hI-nM9uyE/VGP_cDk2xxI/AAAAAAAAFn8/rRC_2NdPihM/w935-h543-no/IMG_20141112_194615.jpg
My expectations for a smooth writer were not let down. This nib performs flawlessly. It is not the most buttery-smooth nib that I've ever used, but it ranks right up there. There was initially a very slight hint of feedback (I hesitate to even call it that), but after further writing it was indistinguishable. I suspect that it was due to my writing angle rather than the paper: Black N Red 24lb.
Without a doubt, this was one of the most difficult pens to get started I've ever used. Cartridges, in general, are much more difficult to get started (short of dipping the nib or squeezing the cartridge) and this was no exception. At this price range, a converter (or option to purchase one) would have been nice. As I understand it, Parker converters will fit.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-K6ko7nvfOKA/VGP_zc0IWLI/AAAAAAAAFoM/GH7q71SvmWg/w716-h543-no/IMG_20141112_194621.jpg
As noted above, I was not overly impressed with the plastic "resin" that Aurora used on this pen. It looks and feels cheap and seems to be very prone to subtle scratching. It's nothing that a quick buff could not take care of, but an annoyance nonetheless.
Many pens have this feel (the Platinum Cool comes to mind) and I would not necessarily steer clear of the pen for that reason alone. It does have a much nicer feel, though, than other plastic pens such as the Platinum Preppy. It does not feel as hard and is warmer to the touch.
Overall, I really like the shape of the pen and the design. I even like the angled cap, but I think that the Aurora-shaped "emblem" looks tacky. It does not sit flush with the cap and looks like something that you'd find cheaply glued onto a Chinese knockoff. It could have used a nicer finish and would have largely benefited from "Aurora" being written on the insert.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3mVh9H_NWYY/VGQAf5fB-8I/AAAAAAAAFos/ehVfG8SF0kU/w724-h543-no/IMG_20141112_195054.jpg
For your reading pleasure, here's a quick look at the Aurora Style fountain pen. Medium nib, Paprika (red) plastic resine. U.S. retail price comes in at $100, but is typically found around $70. At this price range, I am a bit disappointed, but it is a pretty nice pen.
I think that pen companies have a lot to learn from Pilot. Take, for example, the Pilot Metropolitan. It's downright cheap, but well built, and a solid performer right out of the box. Failure to at least come close here with a much more expensive pen (4 Style's for the price of one Metro) would make me hesitate to purchase a more expensive pen from Aurora or any other brand.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-n8hI-nM9uyE/VGP_cDk2xxI/AAAAAAAAFn8/rRC_2NdPihM/w935-h543-no/IMG_20141112_194615.jpg
My expectations for a smooth writer were not let down. This nib performs flawlessly. It is not the most buttery-smooth nib that I've ever used, but it ranks right up there. There was initially a very slight hint of feedback (I hesitate to even call it that), but after further writing it was indistinguishable. I suspect that it was due to my writing angle rather than the paper: Black N Red 24lb.
Without a doubt, this was one of the most difficult pens to get started I've ever used. Cartridges, in general, are much more difficult to get started (short of dipping the nib or squeezing the cartridge) and this was no exception. At this price range, a converter (or option to purchase one) would have been nice. As I understand it, Parker converters will fit.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-K6ko7nvfOKA/VGP_zc0IWLI/AAAAAAAAFoM/GH7q71SvmWg/w716-h543-no/IMG_20141112_194621.jpg
As noted above, I was not overly impressed with the plastic "resin" that Aurora used on this pen. It looks and feels cheap and seems to be very prone to subtle scratching. It's nothing that a quick buff could not take care of, but an annoyance nonetheless.
Many pens have this feel (the Platinum Cool comes to mind) and I would not necessarily steer clear of the pen for that reason alone. It does have a much nicer feel, though, than other plastic pens such as the Platinum Preppy. It does not feel as hard and is warmer to the touch.
Overall, I really like the shape of the pen and the design. I even like the angled cap, but I think that the Aurora-shaped "emblem" looks tacky. It does not sit flush with the cap and looks like something that you'd find cheaply glued onto a Chinese knockoff. It could have used a nicer finish and would have largely benefited from "Aurora" being written on the insert.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3mVh9H_NWYY/VGQAf5fB-8I/AAAAAAAAFos/ehVfG8SF0kU/w724-h543-no/IMG_20141112_195054.jpg